• March 16, 2020
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Europe moves to contain COVID-19 as deaths rise in Italy, Spain

Several countries in Europe have taken various measures in a bid to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. This comes on the heels of rapidly rising numbers of infection and deaths in both Italy and Spain, two of the hardest hit countries in the region. As of Monday morning, 16 March, 1,809 have died in Italy whilst Spain has had 288 fatalities.

Germany is finalising temporary border control measures on borders with Austria, Denmark, France, Luxembourg and Switzerland. Ireland has asked the closure of all pubs from midnight on Sunday, 15 March until at least 29 March. Austria has imposed a ban on gatherings that include more than five people in one location. The Czech Republic is mulling the possibility of a lockdown, as its prime minister has said that it may be necessary to fight the outbreak. Cyprus has declared that only those who have medical clearance will be allowed in the country, although those who are allowed entry will have to go through two weeks of compulsory quarantine.

The United Kingdom has issued a warning on non-essential travel to the United States as well shortly after President Donald Trump banned UK and Irish flights to the US.

The entirety of Italy has been in lockdown since the past week. Spain, meanwhile, introduced a country-wide near-total lockdown for 15 days, restricting all non-essential movement for its 47 million citizens.